Rail fares across the country rise by an average of 3.1% on Wednesday (January 2).

The increase will hit South Western Railway, Southern Rail and Great Western Railway users hard, and many question whether the rise is justified considering the service offered.

The government use July's Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation to determine the increase. Last year’s RPI figure was 3.2%, so the rise falls just below the rate of inflation.

However, rail campaigners are calling on the government to change policy and freeze fares.

Surrey Live wants to hear from rail users regarding the latest fare increases. What do you think of the rise? Are you getting the required service? What would you do if you were in charge of the rail network?

Please send your thoughts and opinions to surreylive@reachplc.com and/or to @surreylive on Twitter.

For updates throughout the day, follow our live blog below.

14:42

Is getting rid of the First Class carriages the answer?

Another user of the Guildford group put forward an interesting idea:

I pay £500+ a month for the privilege of sitting on the train floor for my commute. And now I’ll have to pay more.... grand.

They should at least get rid of First Class on the commuter trains for more space.

14:39

"Greed is destroying this country"

This blog has been posted on the Guildford Town Past and Present Facebook group. One user had very forthright views on the rise.

Well with Surrey blindly walking into gentrification, blue collar workers will soon not only find it unaffordable to live in Surrey but also won’t be able to commute to work due to these price increases.

The whole point of public transport is that it is meant to be AFFORDABLE!!!

Greed is destroying this county.

And the current government couldn’t care less...

14:31

If you use the train, then you should pay for it!

We’ve had a couple of comments on our Facebook page regarding the rise. Andrew Wingham said:

People who use the trains should be paying for them. If drivers get a pay rise that has to be paid for.

While Denise Lynch commented:

Even less likely to travel by train!

13:34

"Legalised theft"

Twitter user Clint Mayhem has some strong views on the fare rise. He tweeted:

Anyone who travels on SWR will tell you its the most frustrating, depressing and unreliable experience. And now the rip off fares increase further. Legalised theft

Rail fare increase a "disgrace"

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has released a video message on the increase. He described the 3.1% fare rise as a “disgrace”, and said the rail network should work in the interests of everybody, not just for “the profits of the few”.

He added that the government was to blame for the price hikes.

Meanwhile, shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald was campaigning in London this morning.

More from SWR Watch

The campaign group has pulled together some research regarding the impact of fare rises. It says:

In 2018 there were a record 31.5 million cars on the UK’s congested roads and a number of rail routes, including those on South Western Railway, have seen further declines in passenger numbers.

Research commissioned by the motoring group RAC illustrates that rail fares have risen by almost 50% in the past 10 years, yet average wages have only grown by 21% in the same period.

Furthermore, since 2013 the costs of travelling by rail has overtaken motoring when all associated costs of running a car are taken into account.

Is it any wonder more people are taking to the roads or finding jobs closer to home?

11:34

"Every year we have to pay more for a demonstrably worse service"

Alison Bunce continues:

It just seems crazy that every year we have to pay more for a demonstrably worse service.So many people are simply being priced back onto the roads - given the concerns about climate change, surely the fares should be lowered to take more cars off the road?

A "kick in the teeth" for rail users

Alison Bunce has tweeted her opinions of the rise...

I can’t imagine you’re going to get any positive responses to this!In a year when the rail delays have been the worst for 12 years, multiple issues causing misery to commuters, the fact that they can raise their fares is a kick in the teeth.

SWR Watch

Campaign group SWR Watch, headed by Jeremy Varns, has strong views on the latest increase. It says:

Once again rail passengers face the worst possible start to the new year with another round of fare rises. The government appears to be in denial about the real impact this is having on the lives of passengers as well as the UK’s economic competitiveness.

Earlier this year, one of the country’s largest unions, the TUC, published research which shows rail passengers in the UK are spending up to five times more of their salary on season tickets than passengers in other European countries.

11:20

We want YOUR thoughts

As most commuters and rail users should know by now, fares go up by an average of 3.1% today.

Surrey Live wants to hear from YOU about the rise. Is is justified? Should fares be frozen? Should they go up by more?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below - we will include them in this live blog.